HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2001-06-13, Page 10they're now at an age where routine
maintenance isn't necessarily going
to serve the buildings well."
The architect advised "a systemat-
ic approach" to assessing all school
roofs, before naming St. Aloysius,
St. James and Mount Carmel as par-
ticular priorities.
"It would appear that items such as
roofs, mechanical systems could
start failing simultaneously,"
the report states. "This would force
the board into some major expendi-
tures. By phasing over a series of
years, emergencies can be mini- -
mized and these upgrades more con-
trolled."
. Following the meeting, superin-
tendent of business Gerry Thuss said
the board would likely take
Marklevitz's advice to heart, and
give roofing a major priority during
considerations about upcoming
maintenance projects.
Earlier in the meeting, Thuss had
explained that changes to this year's
provincial funding formula have
provided the Huron-Perth board with
approximately an additional
$480,000 for facilities renewal.
'Wedding announcement
BROWN BEUERMANN
They did it, they finally did it, although they left me in Canada! On April
23, 2001, in the .Dominican Republic, Megan Brown and Brad
Beuermann, in -front of about thirty guests, were wed. Mom. Dad. I wish
I -could have been there, but I'm glad you're home.
Woof, Woof
Storm
Digging in
PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2001
Separate school board hears 3 schools need attention
By Stew Slater Marklevitz explained that his staff
Special to The Citizen visited each of the board's schools to
While delivering a "School carry out the Facilities Review, tak-
Facility Review" to a Monday, May ing special note of certain predicted
28 regular meeting of the Huron- problem areas. "We went to look for
Perth Catholic District School bad brick, bad roots, all these types
Board, Stratford-based architect and of items. We went through a check-
consultant Terry Marklevitz first tort list."
trustees about three elementary At Kingsbridge, "nearly every
schools which "absolutely need item we hit was a major problem."
attention," mainly to their roofs: St. The main exception was the largely
Aloysius in Stratford, St. James in undamaged roof, which was surpris-
Seaforth, and Our Lady of Mount ing considering the roof was the
Carmel at RR3, Dashwood. most pressing concern in a majority
Then he gave them the bad news. of the board's other schools. But
"There are also two schools that underneath that roof, "significant air
I'd like to centre out for special con- infiltration" from outside has caused
cern," said Marklevitz, whose corn- condensation and subsequent dam-
pany routinely carries out such age to the ceiling tiles.
reviews for both the Catholic board "Due to the nature of the work, we
and the Avon Maitland District would anticipate all walls would
School Board. Those schools are St. need to be repainted . . . (and) all
Mary's in Hesson (RR4, Listowel) ceilings be replaced," the Marklevitz
and St. Joseph's in Kingsbridge report states. He added that, to defeat
(RR3, Goderich). the problem at its source, a foam
Board officials have been aware of insulation should probably be
the situation in Hesson for several installed where the air is entering the
years, but blame government inac- building, which would necessitate
tion for the board's failure to fully the lowering of all ceilings
address what Marklevitz's latest and, thus the replacement of all
report lists as $507,565 worth of lighting.
major and minor repair needs. At Kingsbridge, the estimated bill
Trustees and administrators have for short-term and longer-term repair
complained that the Mike Harris needs is $266,640, which is general-
government, in its ongoing adjust- ly much greater than the estimates at
ment of the educational funding for- other similar-sized schools and
mula, has repeatedly failed to recog- rivals those at some significantly
nize the need to replace such so- larger facilities.
called "obsolete schools." For this However, Marklevitz stressed that,
reason, building safety has been even at schools where the estimated
maintained but there has been no bill is less, there are still often con-
effort to tackle wider problems. terns. Such problems have largely
The architect, however, admitted been addressed at sites of recent or
that the situation at St. Joseph's ongoing expansions and upgrades —
Kingsbridge "sort of snuck up on Holy Name of Mary school in St.
Trustees hold off
on St. Mary's school fate
replacement," said Gerry Thuss, the
board's superintendent of business.
Since Harris's Conservatives dras-
tically overhauled the Education Act
in the mid-1990s, there has been no
such recognition of the need for
boards to replace deteriorating
schools. That means there's no extra
money available for the Huron-Perth
board to either construct a new facil-
ity on the St. Mary's site or build
additions at nearby schools for stu-
dents who might conceivably be
transferred from Hesson.
At the May 28 meeting, trustees
once again agreed to put off a deci-
sion on the school's future, in favour
of calling for action from the gov-
ernment.
After receiving word from Thuss
that there was no mention of the
issue in a recent government
announcement about 2001-2002
educational grants, trustee Vince
McInnes suggested sending a "force-
fully-worded letter," complete with
information from Marklevitz and the
St. Mary's school council, demand-
ing action.
Following the meeting, Thuss said
the board can still guarantee the
safety of the school, so classes will
go ahead next September. "I don't
believe it's at the critical stage yet."
But he admitted the board — like
others across the province facing
similarly deteriorating buildings —
can't wait forever.
Trustee Mike Miller agreed, sup-
porting renewed pressure on the
government but also stressing the
growing urgency. - '
"It would be nice to know one way
or the other (from the government),"
Miller said. "At least if we know
they're not going to move on (the
issue), we can go ahead and decide
on our next step."
Marys, Precious Blood school in
Exeter. and the board's two high
schools in Clinton and Stratford. But
outside those four, roofing is a major
concern, while there is also potential
for trouble with windows and doors,
lighting, and mechanical systems
such as heating and ventilation.
"The reality is that the schools are
a little bit older," Marklevitz said.
"For their age, they tend to be in
good condition. There are a few
exceptions, but I think they've
served you well.
"But, having said that, I think
Auburn
Sun. School
presents
awards
On Sunday, June 10, the teachers
of Knox United Sunday School pre-
sented the children with the follow-
ing awards: Bibles for students grad-
uating from kindergarten to Grade I,
Caroline McDowell, Lauren Cronin,
Shelsie Popp, Ethan Durnin, Zachary
Harman; first-year diploma, Joscelin
Andrews; second-year seal, Danielle
Bean, Alex Harman, Zachary
Harman, Marshall Durnin, Ethan
Dumin; third-year seal, Tony Bean,
Shelsie Popp, Janette Plaetzer,
Caroline McDowell, Lauren Cronin;
fourth-year seal, Adam Cronin,
Jamie Plaetzer; fifth-year seal, Jeff
Plaetzer; sixth-year seal, Michael
McDowell, Shawna Popp; eighth-
year seal, Katie McClinchey, Adam
Andrews, Johnathon McDowell;
ninth-year seal, Erika Andrews;
10th-year seal, Ryan McClinchey;
1 lth-year seal, Charlotte Worsell.
Sunday School teachers were Bev
Lecomte, Sandra Popp, Shirley
Andrews, Patti Cronin, Linda
Plaetzer, Heather Durnin and Anne
Vincent. The superintendent was
Alice McDowell.
Check out The Citizen's
WEBSITE
at www.northhuron.on.ca
By Stew Slater
Special to The Citizen
Trustees of the Huron-Perth
Catholic District School Board have
decided to wait a little longer before
considering the fate of the deteriorat-
ing St. Mary's elementary school in
Hesson, in the hopes that the provin-
cial government devises a policy for
so-called "obsolete schools."
The RR4, Listowel facility, which
houses 158 students and date's to
1924, was singled out "for special
concern" by Stratford-based archi-
tect and consultant Terry Marklevitz,
as he delivered a "School Facilities
Review" during a regular board
Meeting Monday, May 28. The
review cites "significant (building
and fire) code infractions, outdated
- electrical fixtures, the possible pres-
ence of potentially health-endanger-
ing PCBs and asbestos, and signifi-
cant difficulties in making the facili-
ty wheelchair-accessible.
It's not the first time such prob-
lems have been highlighted. Past
Marklevitz reports have outlined the
need for repairs, with the current
Facilities Review estimating the
total bill at $507,565. The St. Mary's
school council has also submitted
information about the building's
deficiencies in the past and has
actively sought action from the
school board.
So far, however, the board has
repeatedly decided to wait for clari-
fication of the "obsolete schools"
issue from premier Mike Harris's
government.
"In the past, the (education) min-
istry would provide funding for the
replacement of a school if it was
determined that the value of the
repair would equal a certain percent-
age of what it would cost for the
Students, parents and staff volunteered to build a base for the new playground equipment at
Sacred Heart school in Wingham Saturday, June 2. The-equipment arrived June 12. From left:
Greg Higgins, Bruce Campbell, Frank Sanders and Scott Bridge. The effort was headed by
Greg Dwyer. (Photo submitted)